The Other Paper covered the Sex Ed hearing this week...

Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010

It’s a big week for sexual-health education, as the Sex::Tech Conference will convene Friday in San Francisco, the city where all no-nonsense sex-talk seems to begin.

Educators, software developers, students and sexual-health professionals will spend the weekend discussing sex ed in the digital age. The main focus will be on utilizing new technologies in order to better educate youths on STD/HIV prevention and sex as they navigate through competing, often politicized sexual-health information.

The same mission was on the minds of Ohio lawmakers, educators and health professionals Tuesday as the House Committee on Education heard testimony onH.B. 316, also known as the “Act for Our Children’s Future.”

Introducing the bill in December, state Rep. Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton) emphasized the need for revision of the abstinence-based curriculum currently used in Ohio schools.

“This legislation will require that if a school district offers any type of sexual-health education, then it must be comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate and abstinence-inclusive, providing ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS,” said Slesnick.

Seems like a no-brainer. So why is Slesnick introducing this bill as if these were revolutionary concepts rather than a common-sense approach to sex ed?

For those who have yet to read them, current rules on sex ed in public schools read like a Bible-thumping scene straight out of Footloose. Among the problems in the current law that H.B. 316 seeks to address is the omission of GLBT students from the curriculum due to the requirement that students be taught that sexual activity is acceptable only after marriage.

“As a gay student, how can I be expected to uphold a standard of abstinence until marriage when I live in a state where I cannot even marry?” asked Daniel Sparks, a Parma High School junior who testified before the committee in favor of H.B. 316, according to transcripts of proponents’ testimonies that were posted online by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Central Ohio.

“Right now, my state and school district are allowing myself and countless others to be left out of a curriculum so necessary and so needed.”

Sparks told legislators that the sex-ed portion of his health class was based on the idea that sex before marriage is immoral. He said it was shaped by Operation Keepsake, an organization funded through federal abstinence and family-values grants that believes, according to its website, “in healthy relationships, in sexual restraint and in marriage.”

Sparks testified that his fellow students treated the course as a joke, mainly because they had a hard time thinking about marriage at age 14.

Elise DeVore Berlan, an attending physician in Nationwide Children's Hospital’s Section of Adolescent Health, testified on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter. Berlan told the committee that studies have shown abstinence-only programs like those currently required in Ohio’s public-education system are ineffective.

“Alternatively, many studies have demonstrated that comprehensive sex-education programs are effective in delaying onset of sexual activity, reducing number of sexual partners and increasing use of condoms and contraception,” Berlan testified. “Our children and youth deserve medically accurate sex education, so that they may make responsible decisions around sexual activity.”

Ohio’s current sex-ed curriculum defines abstinence as the “only means of prevention and protection that is one hundred percent effective against unwanted pregnancy (and) sexually transmitted diseases,” and omits references to birth control, condoms or other methods of protection.

Ohio law requires that sex-ed programs primarily teach children the “potential physical, psychological, emotional, and social side effects of participating in sexual activity outside of marriage” and of conceiving “out of wedlock.” Adoption is the one option to be emphasized should a student face an unwanted pregnancy.

Under Slesnick’s bill, parents will still be able to opt out of sexual education, but no gay or sexually active students would be left behind, as they are under the current program. H.B. 316 would “stress the value of abstinence education but not to the exclusion of” educating sexually active students about contraception and disease reduction. Information would need to be age-appropriate, objective, medically accurate and free of religious doctrine, according to the proposed law.

The Rev. C. David Morgan of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Canton testified before the House education committee that the bill was a long overdue correction of Ohio’s sex-ed policy. The clergyman gave his blessing to the law, which, he said, would provide students with a comprehensive sexual-health education based on “measurable data rather than the wistful wishes that arise from the fog of misinformation.”


Copyright © 2010 - The Other Paper

Read more...

Consent is one of the biggest issues never discussed in conversations about sex, whether the talks are happening in classrooms, the bedroom of two adults, or in the back of a station wagon (or your parents’ basement, or under the bleachers…you get the picture).

Let me just say that I think teaching young folks about abstinence is great. Sex is something that should be entered into with full knowledge and consent, and complete awareness of the physical and emotional implications. Teaching people they have the agency and ability to say no to sex is awesome. Teaching people they can be happy, sexual, popular, self-confident people and say no to sex is wonderful. Teaching people they can consent to hand-holding, hugging, kissing, stroking, taking a shirt off, and still say no to sex, that’s empowering.

Abstinence-only programs do none of those things. Abstinence-only is not empowering. Teaching people (women especially) that they’re used, they’re unwanted, they’re disgusting, and even dirty lollipops if they consent to sex outside of marriage is depressing. Discouraging people from open discussion about sexuality and desires through shaming and scare tactics is downright wrong.

How can someone make decisions about to engaging in sexual activity if all the information they have amounts to "sex is bad and 'purity' is good "?

On a visit back home I ran into a 15-year-old friend of my sister’s. When my sis was off talking to a couple of other friends, I was sitting with this girl (let’s call her Tina.) Tina pointed to something in the nearby vicinity and said it was roll-y “like a condom.” I asked her a couple of follow-up questions and it turns out Tina had had sex with two previous boyfriends and now she was known for being a girl who would do that kind of thing, and she didn’t know how to say no. She felt the guys who dated her only asked her out because they knew she had had sex, and she felt obligated to them. I mean, hell, once the wrapper’s off the lollipop, you can’t just shove it back on and say it’s still good. (Disclaimer: I did *not* use that analogy in the conversation with her.)

When I told her that she could say no to the next boy, even though she’d said yes to the first boy, her reaction was gratitude. “No one has ever said that to me before. I’ve never thought of it like that.” Then we talked about her condom use. She had no idea which sexual acts would expose her to STD’s, and no idea that you could use condoms outside of intercourse.

Thanks abstinence-only in Archbold, OH. Bang-up job you’ve done.

When we finished that conversation, Tina was excited that she could say no until she felt ready to engage in sexual acts, and I felt confident that if she did decide to, she’d know how to protect herself from STD’s and pregnancy as best she could. I felt bad knowing not everyone has a friend’s sister they can go to, and not every sister’s friend is like me (let’s face it-I’m hard to compete with).

If we aren’t having full, open and honest conversations about sex, we’re not equipping people with the tools they need to decide in which circumstances they say yes, and in which they say no. We aren’t teaching people the signs to look for to know whether a partner is unable to or has not yet consented (alcohol and drug consumption, mental health issues, age differences, lack of a clear, voluntary and vocal “yes”, etc.).

It’s time to move from a frame of draping sex in sin and shame to one of giving people tools and knowledge; so they feel empowered to say no, so they only engage in sexual acts with fully consenting partners, and so they are capable of protecting themselves from pregnancy and STD’s if they say yes. Come on, Ohio. It’s time.

Jennifer Yoder is a Victim's Services Coordinator for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

Read more...

This week, a new study confirmed old news: abstinence-only programs don't work. Yet the Ohio legislature continues to allow school districts to cheat students out of a complete education. Lawmakers with common sense, however, are proposing that all sex education must be comprehensive sex education to close the knowledge gap about how to prevent unintended pregnancies. Ohio House Education Committee Chair Brian Williams is part of that effort, and we thank him for scheduling hearings on House Bill 316.

The new study we mentioned? The Guttmacher Institute released their report "Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health." It confirms what we already suspected: between 2005 and 2006, the rate of teen pregnancies increased 3%. A teenager that becomes pregnant will likely face serious setbacks in her educational progress and her career opportunities. This rate increase also comes with a massive cost to taxpayers.

By scheduling hearings on HB 316, Rep. Williams will provide committee members with the opportunity to learn how comprehensive sex education will help to prevent unintended pregnancies and save taxpayers’ money.


There's something we don't trust about legislation that uses sarcasm. That's why we became skeptical when we read Senator Jones' Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 and came across the word reform in quotes, as in Health Care "Reform."

Instead of working on ideas to improve public health in our state, Senator Jones wrote an ineffective resolution telling Congress to reject any legislation that includes abortion care as an option for women under health care reform. She is using her seat in the Ohio General Assembly to voice support for federal policies that would restrict a woman's access to safe and legal reproductive health services. She would surely fit in with the likes of U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) and Representative Bart Stupak (D-Michigan).



-Gabriel

Read more...

I was recently flying out of CMH (that's how us cool people say Port Columbus International Airport) and I thought to myself, "What if it was possible for me to park farther away from the terminal? And wouldn't it be cool if I could somehow deny women accurate information about abortion services at the same time?"

Well, ask and ye shall receive!

FastTrack Airport Parking has announced that they will donate 10% of participating customers' bills to Pregnancy Decision Health Centers.

"But wait," you ask, "this place sounds like a good thing. Aren't they a medical facility? They call themselves a 'Health Center'?"

A medical facility? Not so much. Pregnancy Decision Health Centers is a business that functions for the express purpose of making women decide not to get an abortion through any means possible - including applying guilt, religious lectures, peer pressure, and lies about abortion care.

To bring in unwitting women, they offer pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. No one mentions the person operating the ultrasound equipment isn't a medical professional and wouldn't be able to spot something wrong. Some staff are dressed in nurses' scrubs to give the appearance women are receiving medical care.

FastTrack, in case you were wondering, is a company that lets you save money by charging less for daily parking than the airport's own overnight lot. The trade off is you have to take their shuttle bus all the way from their lot "near" the airport to and from your car. The big savings for a longer trek to your car? A massive $0.25 per day!

In a way, PDHC and FastTrack go hand in hand. Both advertise a service that's almost what people want.



-Gabriel

Read more...

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio released their monthly Thanks and Spanks today. The organization's cheers and jeers go to two groups or individuals who have made a difference in reproductive rights, either good or bad.

If there is one voice for women in Ohio, it is that of Connie Schultz. The Pulitzer-prize-winning columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes twice weekly in defense of the underdog and the underprivileged. Ms. Schultz's column is a voice for reproductive rights, gay rights, sexual equality, affordable and accessible health care, workers' rights, military families, and ending violence towards women and children.

In 2009, Connie Schultz raised her voice to a pitch often described as a roar, in support of women and reproductive rights. In April, Ms. Schultz served as keynote speaker at the Freedom of Choice Ohio Lobby Day. Her speech urged the women in the room to play a greater role in politics. She inspired us to look even within ourselves for the next reproductive rights warrior.

In November, Ms. Schultz slammed Rep. Bart Stupak and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for claiming religion is a legitimate reason to deny access to health care. In the same column, she warned "self-proclaimed progressives" against asking women to forfeit their rights so the Democratic Party could have a hollow political victory. Her description of the "me-first-you-never approach to women's rights" could not be more true.

For speaking out for those without a voice, Ms. Schultz is re-paid with thousands of insults and criticisms that flood her inbox, often slamming her for her pro-choice views regardless of the topic of her latest column.

For those reasons and so many more, we offer our special year-end THANKS to you, Connie Schultz! We are proud to have you on our side and appreciate your voice.

To Thank Ms. Schultz for her year of hard work and to ask her for more of the same in 2010, you can write her at Cschultz@plaind.com or call her at the Plain Dealer at 216-999-5087.




Oh, Congressman Boehner, how do I dislike thee? Let me count the ways.

Congressman Boehner, the House Minority Leader, has spent 2009 spreading misinformation and outright lies. In January, we told you about Congressman Boehner’s attempt to kill the Medicaid Family Planning State Option because it would include contraceptive coverage. In August, Congressman Boehner was up to his old tricks again, claiming that a public-option would force American citizens to fund abortion on demand.

Predictably, he's still at it. This month, the House Minority Leader's office released a statement blasting Senator Harry Reid for forcing all Americans enrolled in a proposed insurance plan to "pay a monthly abortion premium." What Boehner doesn't explain is that these proposed plans would be created for the specific purpose of giving women the option of having abortion coverage. They would be strictly voluntary and fully funded by the private premiums paid by the individual. In other words, no Americans would be forced to have abortion coverage or pay for it if they chose not to do so. Yet another attempt at fear-mongering by Congressman Boehner.

For this reason and so many more, we award Congressman Boehner with the SPANKS of the year! And here is the rest of it.

Read more...

Salon.com published a letter from a fictional member of Congress about redistricting. I think it's definitely worth a read because Ohio will lose one or two Congressional seats when the lines are redrawn. Every Ohioan should understand the decade-long implications of this process.



-Gabriel

Read more...

This past Wednesday, I was part of a group of ralliers that gathered to express our concern at the STOP Stupak Speak Out held in the Wexner Center Plaza on Ohio State University's campus. Read the OSU Lantern's coverage of the event here. Many of us were from feminist groups on campus and a few professors joined us too- which was amazing! We gathered because we are ardently opposed to the eleventh hour addition of the Stupak amendment to the House healthcare reform bill. And we also don't want a likewise anti-choice amendment being added to the Senate healthcare reform bill- or any of the same in the final bill. I feel that anti-choice language is not only morally wrong but also an overt way to control women's reproductive organs. It seems that women's bodies are always used as a gambling chip and we need to tell our legislators that this is NOT OK. We held the speak out to inform other students of this antic-choice language being successfully added to the House bill and to collect signatures for the anti-Stupak amendment petiton.

The day itself was not a great day to have a speak out as it was rainy and very COLD (and the last week before finals to boot) BUT we were still going to make our voices heard. We shouted some chants, held up posters, got signatures for the petition all whilest passing out condoms. The reaction to the speak out seemed pretty positive and several cars driving by honked their support. The Lantern (OSU's paper) came by and gave us some great coverage too. It was awesome to have the chance to talk to female AND male students about the implications of this amendment and to hear that most of them supported what we were doing. And some OSU maintenance workers were clearing up leaves near us and a bunch of them came over to sign the petition! They were there to do their job but then became interested in what we were doing. It’s so encouraging to see people walking by, caught up in their own world, suddenly stop and decide to stand up against something that will adversely affect millions of lives. I really feel that voting can be great way to make your voice heard BUT there are other means such as rallies, speak outs, petitions, phonebanking, and canvassing that can be extremely effective as well.



-Elizabeth

Read more...

On November 18th, thirty-six activists packed a crowded Statehouse hearing room to witness the first ever proponent testimony for the Ohio Prevention First Act (HB 293). In total, sixteen witnesses provided testimony. Copies of submitted testimony are available at www.ppao.org.

The witnesses represented a variety of backgrounds and levels of expertise and included testimony from:

• two medical doctors
• a clergyman
• a professor of health education
• a sexual assault survivor
• high school and college students
• two social workers
• a person denied birth control by a pharmacist
• the Ohio Business and Professional Women
• the National Council of Jewish Women
• Lucas County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative
• the League of Women Voters
• the Coalition for Family Health

The insight from these individuals and the patience of our supporters to sit through testimony until 9PM has helped the Ohio House Health Committee understand exactly why this legislation is so desperately needed.


During the Ohio Prevention First Act hearing, Coalition for Family Health convener Judi Wolf presented testimony on the need for comprehensive sex education. Her testimony was followed by the claim from Representative Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) that pro-prevention advocates are encouraging young people to be anything but abstinent and will contribute to the increase in sexually transmitted diseases. He accused advocates of comprehensive sex education of having an agenda that puts young people at a greater level of risk.

Ms. Wolf replied that medically-accurate, age-appropriate sex education will give young people the understanding of how to prevent contracting STDs. She informed the committee that students do not receive adequate education from abstinence-only programs.

Rep. Wachtmann's reply, "You're wrong!"

Really, Representative Wachtmann?

Ironically, two days before the hearing, the Centers for Disease Control released their study of STD rates in America. Their finding: STD rates increased significantly in 2008. This increase occurred at a time when the federal government gave millions of dollars to states, including Ohio, to provide abstinence-only programming.

Dr. John Douglas, head of the CDC's Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention, said to avoid STDs, teens can delay the beginning of sexual activity, people can limit the number of sexual partners and use condoms. "Condoms have risk-reduction value for every sexually transmitted condition," Douglas said.

Either the Centers for Disease Control has an agenda set on harming teens or maybe it's Representative Wachtmann who is wrong.





-Gabriel

Read more...

HB 316 Sponsor Testimony Rep. Stephen Slesnick

Representative Stephen Slesnick gave the first ever sponsor testimony for Comprehensive Sex Education in front of the Ohio House Education Committee, yesterday. HB 316 will require schools that offer any sex education to provide a complete curriculum, teaching birth control and condom usage.

This age-appropriate, medically-accurate lesson plan is proven to reduce sexual activity in teens, delay the age when students decide to become sexually active, and increases the use of condoms and birth control among students who do become active.

Rep. Slesnick is taking the responsible course of action in bringing this discussion and this bill to the Ohio House. Bravo!




-Gabriel

Read more...

On Wednesday, the Ohio Prevention First Act received its first ever hearing for proponent testimony! 16 witnesses provided testimony (11 people spoke, 5 others sent written statements) in favor of the bill. You can read their statements at www.ppao.org.

One of the star witnesses was Elizabeth Williams, a rape survivor who explained the need for immediate access to Emergency Contraception. Ms. Williams is the Executive Director of Survivors to Alivers, a rape survivor support and awareness organization. In the video below, she shares her story about being raped by a teacher, her struggle for recovery and considering suicide, and what we can do to make the healing process easier for survivors by removing barriers to Emergency Contraception.

Elizabeth Williams HB293 Proponent Testimony from Gabriel Mann on Vimeo.

-Gabriel

Read more...